CTA Tattler

Try to take an empty seat? "Perverted; felonious; retarded!"

It's barely 7 am on the long Red Line commute to the Loop from Howard. By Argyle, the train car is filling, but the woman in her late 50's is still protecting the aisle seat beside her with the worn, jam-packed messenger bag.

She herself wears a huge head scarf wrapped around her scowling face. At Argyle, a guy in his late 20s boards and immediately eyes the seat, standing expectantly next to it.

"Stop leaning on my seat!" barks the woman.

"I'm waiting for you to move your bag so I can sit down," he explains patiently.

"Move my bag! You're not sitting next to ME!"

"Lady, I paid my $2, and your bag didn't, so your bag doesn't get to ride in that seat for free."

"You don't get to sit next to me, you PERVERT!"

"Oh, please, don't flatter yourself."

"Don't flatter myself!?!" Ohhhh, you get away from me now, you pervert!"

"I'll tell you what lady. I'm going to go over there and sit next to someone who is not crazy!"

"Who's crazy?! I'm not crazy! Imagine, sitting down next to me, that's felonious; that's retarded!"

And no one else tried to sit next to her again.

Ridership up 1%; a Happy St. Pat's Day for seniors

The CTA posted a 1% gain in ridership in 2007 -- an increase of 4.7 million rides to just under 500 million total. That makes 2007 the highest ridership year since 1992.

Bus rides rose 3.6% to 309.3 million rides, while train rides dipped 2.5% to 190.2 million. That drop was expected due to numerous repair jobs and the Brown Line rehab, which forced three-tracking at Belmont and Fullerton stations.

Wearin' the green and keepin' the green. That's what seniors over 65 will be doing come March 17 when free rides on the RTA systems kick in for them. Seniors will have to show their senior reduced fare card, which they can get at outlets posted here.

The RTA is developing a smart card specifically for seniors.

The RTA still expects the free ride program will cost about $30 million. The Trib reported:

It remained unclear how many seniors will take advantage of the free rides. Census figures estimate that about 870,000 seniors live in the metropolitan area. The RTA has issued about 239,000 reduced-fare cards, and many eligible seniors do not take advantage of the program, officials said.

"We expect a surge in that number," [RTA Executive Director Steve] Schlickman said.

Time will tell. Meanwhile, SB 1409 passed the House, but chances are it won't be called for consideration in the Senate. That's the bill that would make sure the free transit program "piggy-back[s] on the existing state "circuit breaker" program, which provides benefits for seniors and the disabled if they meet these income eligibility guidelines: $22,218 for a household of 1, $29,480 for a household of 2, and $36,740 for a household of 3 or more."

My respect for Rep. Julie Hamos continues to grow for her leadership on this issue.

Celling across the car

Two woman in their 20's spy each other across the train car and strike up a conversation -- via cell phone.

Each stands in the opposite doorway across the car, looking at each other and laughing as they exchange pleasantries.

Quite a few passengers surrounding them notice the conversation. Finally the one says, "Well I'm getting off at Belmont. Have a good day at work."

She snaps her Razr shut, chuckles and gives a wave to her pal as she exits at Belmont.

I suppose it's better than yelling across the train car, right?

Reminds me of a previous post about texting another person in the same car. It does have its place.

Here's the latest picture on CTA revenue

Here's a graphical view of CTA revenue for 2008 through 2010 after passage of HB 656 (details here). It's taken directly from CTA President Ron Huberman's report (5.5 mb pdf) to the board last week. In this case, three pictures is worth, what -- 3,000 words?

Four track is back at Fullerton -- at least for a little while

The CTA on Friday put the new track No. 3 into service at the Fullerton El station -- the northbound track now to be used exclusively by the Red Line.

The CTA will use all four tracks at Fullerton for at least a few weeks while they finish the new track at Belmont. Then the focus will shift to the southbound side of Belmont and Fullerton.

But for now, Red, Brown and Purple trains may run a tad faster through Fullerton -- until they bunch up again waiting to use the single track at Belmont. Three tracking started on April 2, 2007. I was one of many warning of "three-track hell," but frankly, it hasn't been all that bad.

And while I'm on the subject of three-tracking, I must give kudos to all the men and women working on this project -- especially those who are outside in this horrid weather of late. Thanks for your efforts!

CTA Tattler shoutout in Time Out Chicago

I’m happy to report that Time Out Chicago magazine has named me as one of Chicago's “Web masters” -- one of four “blogging luminaries with a loyal following” on my CTA Tattler blog.

The latest Time Out issue is all about blogging in Chicago, with some great features and many other cool sites noted. I especially liked the feature on bizarre local blogs.

Here’s the Time Out story on the Tattler, complete with a funky photo of me by Calbee Booth.

Of course, all you folks constitute the “loyal following,” so I owe it all to you! Sniff, sniff . . . . 

Thanks for reading, and let’s hope for some happy trails in 2008.

Live video feeds to beef up security on new train cars

The CTA Wednesday amended a $577 million contract for 406 Bombardier rail cars to add wireless connectivity that will allow live video feeds in every car.

The changes also will add cellular modems to enhance real-time communications with customers via audio and text messages via speakers and six display screens in each car.

In addition, the CTA added anti-stain/anti-microbial fabric for the seats. These new features will cost an additional $26.6 million, for a new total of $603.6 million. Capital funding for this project is provided by the Federal Transit Administration and the Illinois Dept. of Transportation. More details in this CTA press release.

While a final decision has no been made on whether the cars will feature longitudinal seating, a CTA spokesperson said it's likely since seats along the windows provide extra capacity.

The photo here shows one scenario for a door design. And click on the continuation below for a different interior design scheme. There are definite mixed feelings on the longitudinal seating, as seen in the comments on these 2006 posts.

After the Alert: Cold wreaks havoc on CTA trains, buses; more info needed

The first CTA Alert hit my cell phone before 5 am Tuesday: "Due to flooding, #78 Montrose buses rerouted both in directions via Montrose, Lincoln, Irving Park and Ashland."

Then news came about the Damen bus and Montrose station closing because of the huge water main break. (The CTA originally reported the wrong station was closed, but then corrected it.) The subscribers to Tattler's CTA Alerts got the news early and were able to adapt quickly. And we thank the CTA for that.

But the CTA still has been inconsistent about its communications to the wireless text group on emergencies and outages. For instance, we didn't hear a word Monday about the Clark and Lake subway and elevated station closing for another broken water pipe.

And Tuesday morning's commute on the Red Line was backed up due to interlocking problems at Howard Street.

Remember CTA, the more your customers know, the better they can adapt to changing situations, especially in inclement weather. So please open up that information pipeline a little wider.

(Chicago Tribune photo by Nancy Stone / January 22, 2008)

Passenger cooperation at its outer limits

A 30-ish guys boards and sits next to another guy on a train with other empty seats. He shares his hip-hop magazine with his seatmate. And his seatmate shares his knowledge of a diamond bracelet he was selling.

Meanwhile, in the seat in front of these gentlemen, a woman was preening her 9-year-old son. Mainly she was concerned about the cold sore on his lip. The guy with the magazine, recognizing mom's distress, whipped out his tube of "extra-strength" Carmex. He squeezed out a line on his finger and shared it with the woman.

Gratefully, she applied it to her son's swollen lip.

Now THAT'S passenger cooperation.

Now the focus shifts to capital cash

We all boarded our usual buses and trains today at the same fare we paid last week. Doomsday was averted.

But in fact, for every mile we ride on the old buses and roll past rail tracks in need of upgrade, we inch closer to another Doomsday. That's why we need to solve the crisis of capital spending for the CTA.

An estimated $6.3 billion in capital repairs and upgrades remains unfunded in the CTA's five-year capital improvement budget. Current spending is pegged at $2.4 billion. which is set aside to fix slow zones, overhaul and replace the fleet, make general repairs, and complete the Brown Line expansion.

Unfunded projects in the $6.3 billion include track and track bed renewal, replacement of subway lighting and ventilation systems, viaduct repairs, and station upgrades.

Obviously, the need is great, and the task is daunting. But we have to keep up the pressure on both state and federal legislators. We avoided one Doomsday. Let's not face another.

Budget source: CTA President's 2008 Budget Recommendations

An ominous wind blows through the train car

I was on the Red Line returning home from work on Thursday, just about an hour after the news broke that both the state House and Senate had OK'ed Rod's change to the transit bill to give seniors free rides.

The wind was picking up as the jet stream dove south in the first hint of below-zero wind chills blowing in for the weekend.

As the doors opened at Loyola, a huge gust of wind whipped through the train car and tore from its frame this ad with this headline:

"The CTA is fighting for funding. We do not want to make these cuts."

Eerie, ominous and strangely apropos.

Yes, a big victory, but many questions linger

The biggest mass transit story in a year is hardly over. Many questions remain.

• Who will get free rides?
• Will there be means testing for seniors?
• Should disabled folks get free rides? The poor?
• Will fares rise to pay for the above?
• And what about capital funding?

So it ain't over yet folks. Meanwhile, here's a quick look at details on the bill, from the Associated Press:

REVENUE INCLUDES:

• $280 million from higher sales taxes in the Chicago region.
• $70 million in state matching funds triggered by sales tax.
• $55 million in state support to serve disabled people.
• $100 million from tax on Chicago real estate transfers.
• $25 million in state matching funds triggered by transfer tax.

SPENDING INCLUDES:

• $275 million for primary operations at CTA, Metra and Pace.
• $100 million for Pace to serve seniors and the disabled.
• $121 million for collar counties to use for road, transit and safety projects.
• $50 million for downstate transit systems.

CHANGES INCLUDE:

• Senior citizens can ride free on their local transit systems.
• Regional Transportation Authority must produce long-term strategic plan.
• RTA can settle disputes among its transit systems on fares, services and more.
• RTA must develop joint marketing plan for transit systems.
• CTA must make pension and health care reforms to control costs.

Source: Rep. Julie Hamos, D-Evanston.

Doomsday averted; legislators pass transit bill with free rides for seniors

We can all breathe a little easier. Today both the House and Senate OK'ed the mass transit bill with Blago's stipulation of free rides for seniors. Though they weren't happy about it.

And expect to see further refinement of who rides free (income test for seniors and an extension to the disabled).

Curiously, today's vote yielded one less "yea" in the House and two more in the Senate compared to last week's original vote.

More later.

D-Day for Doomsday

There's not much more to say.

We need:

• 60 votes in the House.
• 30 votes in the Senate.

Just do it. Today.

My prediction: They will. But it won't be easy.

It never has been.

A fresh look focuses on the people behind subway performers

A student-produced documentary airing tonight on WTTW Channel 11 cold help dispel some myths about subway music performers.

Pavan Bapu, a University at Illinois Chicago English student and maker of "Sound Underground," said one woman he interviewed was a backup singer to R&B artist R. Kelly, while others play regular gigs at nightclubs. These professionals find the subway to be "a secondary rehearsal space," Bapu said in a press release:

"Sound Underground," the debut project of the young producer/editor, was selected to premiere on WTTW-TV's "Image Union." The producer of the Chicago Public Television show says they receive hundreds of films each year, and rarely are student productions among the 40 or so chosen for broadcast.

"Sound Underground" airs Thursday, Jan. 17, at 10:30 p.m. and will be re-broadcast Jan. 20 at midnight. It meshes the CTA aesthetic -- the jumble of trains, signs and commuters -- with the performers' music and stories.

Pavan, 21, overcame many road blocks and bureaucratic hassles to make the film -- for under $100.

• With the help of UIC English lecturer and internship coordinator Linda Landis Andrews, he arranged for an independent study course to classify the film project as a non-profit and academic endeavor. It fulfilled his required Honors Activity.
• Next, the University of Illinois backed him with $2 million in liability insurance required by the CTA.
• A friend's father, who is a CTA planning engineer, volunteered to serve as the required CTA location supervisor for every hour the crew filmed underground.
• And the CTA agreed to waive over $60,000 in filming fees to grant permission to record.

With this kind of resourcefulness, something tells me the documentary is gonna be good stuff. So check it out tonight, and see the You Tube preview below.

Chi-Town Daily News also recently covered underground performers.

Hey legislators! "Just hold your nose and vote for it"

Our fabulous governor told skeptical seniors Tuesday to "just hold your nose and take a bus for free."

I would like to extend and amend that advice to state legislators, who will gather Thursday to consider whether to approve Blago's amendatory veto of the transit funding bill that calls for free rides for seniors:

"Just hold your nose and vote for it."

Some columnists and commenters have suggested that lawmakers should override the veto and pass the original bill again. Folks, that just ain't gonna happen.

In fact, there's still real concern about getting the legislators who originally OK'ed this bill.

Next steps?

• Rep. Julie Hamos and her House Mass Transit Committee will a public hearing at 2 pm today, Room 16-503 at the Thompson Center.
• The Legislature returns to Springfield Thursday to vote on HB 656.

Check out the fact sheet on HB 656 from Hamos' Web site.

And hold your breath for at least 30 votes in the Senate and 60 in the House.

No Pants Day recap: "Everything can be more fun without pants"

Here is Bluebummer’s account of last Saturday’s No Pants Day Chicago. He also took the photos, so thanks for sharing, Justin Hardesty! (There are more photos in the continuation.)

We met at Granville and Magnolia at 2 pm. About 40 to 50 people participated. The reason the number is unclear is due to people joining us on the train.

It worked very well. The plan was that there were three groups. Each group had a different car and each person or couple people were assigned a stop.

At the stop before yours you would stand up and lose your pants, stow them away in your bag, and then exit at your stop. Then you would wait for the next train and enter the same car you exited on the previous train.

It was fun to watch the reactions as someone would get on the train and see the first no pants person. Then they would take a seat and notice the big picture. The look on their faces would go from “OK, that was strange”  to “what the hell!” Once everyone was depantsed and aboard the second train it was pretty full of both bottomed and non-bottomed people.

When we arrived at Monroe everyone exited the train. The platform was soon flooded with pants-less individuals. On the way back north the reactions when everyone got on the train at the same time was priceless.

The lady who was sitting right next to me had no idea what just happened. She was floored. She then asked me why I have no pants on. I told her, “My roommate was yelling at me and I ran out of my apartment and COMPLETELY forgot my pants.” She said,  “OK then what is everyone else’s story”

I told her I had no Idea what their stories were and maybe she should ask them. She asked the girl sitting directly across from me. The girl looked right into her eyes and said, “Sorority initiation” and rolled her eyes. 

We then each got off at designated stops and did the same going back up to Granville. When we reached Granville we got off the train and went back over to our meeting spot and took a no pants picture in the parking lot. 

All in all very successful first no pants for Chicago! I learned everything can be more fun without pants!

Blago bloviation: Big talk for a little man

For a guy who is risking the success of the Legislature's transit funding solution with his insistence on free rides for seniors, he likes to talk big:

"If you are a senior citizen in Chicago, there are some dark clouds all over, dark clouds hovering over your head. Well, I've got good news for you," Blagojevich said. "If the lawmakers approve my bailout of the CTA by giving to our senior citizens free public transportation, then those dark clouds are going to roll away. The sun is going to shine. You can get on the Red Line and everything will be just fine."

"My bailout."

WTF?!? Is he nuts? Why yes, it appears he truly is. Self delusional if nothing else.

At least Daley had it right in his criticism of Blago on Saturday:

"Now we have people with disabilities saying 'We want it,' and we have students saying 'We want it,'" Daley said.  The governor should have spoken up earlier. Now, Daley said there's no guarantee the general assembly will again pass a bill, which, as it was last week, passed by just a handful of votes. "All this just puts everything up in the air for another week, which is really unfortunate," Daley said.

Meanwhile, probably the best dissing of the Gov came from his buddy Mike Madigan: "I congratulate the governor for breaking his campaign promise." Ouch.

Rod fired back that Madigan was old enough to take advantage of the free rides for seniors.

Finally, CTA Prez Ron Huberman warned that fare hikes may be needed in 2009 to pay for the fare break that Blago wants to give senior citizens.

Fabulous.

A No Pants success

About 50 people participated in the first CTA No Pants Day Saturday, according to Bluebummer. He promises a story and photos later.

Meanwhile, I found a few pix by jatherton on Flickr. Enjoy.

 

"Free rides are a terrible idea that should be dropped" -- senior citizen

I've heard from a few senior citizen transit riders since Thursday's bombshell announcement by the governor.

Billy's comment here yesterday best summarizes their concerns:

I'm a senior, and I wrote to Blag and my "representatives" that the free rides are a terrible idea that should be dropped. Being old doesn't mean being poorer than a lot of other people, and seniors already have reduced fares if they want them.

All this will do is make old folks look like the leeches who made mass transit fail. Blag is trying to transfer his own culpability to a whole class of citizens who didn't ask for, and don't want, this "special" treatment. The idea is insulting and divisive. If the governor really wanted to help seniors he'd have worked to assure fast, safe, reliable transportation for everybody in our region. Instead he and his legislative counterparts have done nothing but destroy it.

If he thinks he's won support from seniors by this pathetic ploy he is sadly mistaken. I don't know any "beneficiary" who is not disgusted by it. I hope, if the legislature doesn't stop it, the courts will strike it down.

Blago's fuzzy math

Generally, I'm OK with giving seniors who deserve it a free ride, but that should be part of a separate policy discussion that includes an income test -- those who earn under $15,000 or whatever regardless of age -- get a ride free or at a severely reduced rate.

Yes, there should be means testing. After all, there are seniors thriving on a high "fixed income" who make more than the $35,000-a-year secretary who works down the hall.

The bottom line on Blago's "amendatory veto" is that the math doesn't add up. He wants to take "lemons and make lemonade" for those seniors who will be victimized by the tax hike. But the quarter of a percent sales tax increase in Cook County will cost all consumers -- seniors too -- just 25 cents on every $100 they spend. (The extra tariff is a half percentage point in the collar counties.)

And now Blago thinks because of that extra quarter paid on $100 spent, all seniors should ride free.

But do the math. A senior would have to spend about $70,000 on taxable goods annually to equal the $176 the governor says he's now saving on a free CTA ride twice a week. It doesn't make sense.

Hmmm.... so let's see. Help all seniors = buy some votes.

That's right, I'm a cynic.

Update: New meet-up site for No Pants Day

There's a new meeting place for you folks ready to part with pants and bounce around in boxers or parade in panties on Saturday on the CTA.

Cesar, one of the local No Pants Day organizers, reports the new meet-up will be at Granville and Magnolia. You can call him at (773) 790-8019, or email him here.

Unfortunately, I can't make it, so somebody better get some photos and send them here for me to post.

Gov. mounts his shiny white steed -- and mucks up the works with risky move

Most people probably don't have any problem with giving deserving seniors on fixed incomes free rides on public transportation. That's definitely a public policy that should be debated and enacted.

But I DO have a problem with this current governor swooping in like he's some kind of Boy Scout to cram this important public policy statement into an even more important public transit funding bill.

As you probably know, Blago says he will sign a bill to raise the area sales tax a quarter of one percent (half a percent in collar counties) IF seniors get to ride free.

OK, fine. So now a bill that would have provided for $494 million in new RTA funding is reduced right off the bat by $20 million for the CTA alone. That doesn't include the costs for free rides on Metra and Pace.

Then there's the risk that the bill won't pass. It squeaked by on just one vote in the Senate Thursday morning, after the Senate leader had to twist arms and change a vote overnight. What if someone can't make it to the next legislative session to consider Blago's "amendatory veto"?

Why didn't Rod tell the House and Senate he wanted free rides for seniors BEFORE they passed the bill. Could it be he's courting the senior vote for his next election? Pardon my cynicism. But this is just a very very maneuver.

One final note: The last time I looked at the Tribune's unscientific click poll on whether seniors should get free rides, 75% of voters opposed it. So maybe I'm wrong about my first sentence.

Count 'em - TWO bailout bills hit the Senate; one fails there

Oh, what a difference a year makes. Or at least, the turning of the calendar page from 2007 to 2008.

In a chamber that couldn't agree on anything last year, the House yesterday passed not one but TWO transit bailout bills for the Senate to consider. Since it is a new legislative year, any vote in the legislature requires just a simple majority, and not a super majority (60%), as required during the "overtime" session after May 31.

The first bill to pass (66-49) was the $385 million diversion of state gas tax money in the six-county RTA region. Of course, that puts a gaping hole in the state budget, but hey, we'll worry about that later. Yeah, let's tax those poor schmoe smokers a lot more, whaddya say? Isn't there a lot of smoking on the CTA?

The second bill, approved by a 63-52 margin, was a version of SB 572. This one would raise the state sales tax a quarter of a percent in Cook County and a half percent in the outer five-county region. Those counties would have the option of use extra quarter percent for road construction. It would also raise real estate taxes in Chicago.

That bill makes the most sense to me because it has us citizens who use mass transit -- and are affected most by it -- paying for it. It's a sustainable source of funds that's not terribly onerous on the taxpayer -- we'd have to pay a quarter more on every $100 of goods we buy.

Unfortunately, the Senate came up one vote shy of a majority in passing its own version of the sales tax bill. The Senate will try again Thursday.

And besides, even if the Senate could pass a version of that solution, Blago, who previously threatened to veto it, would tinker with it using his amendatory veto power -- "improvements" he calls it. That could torpedo the bill entirely and certainly delay passage as the haggling over "improvements" proceeds.

Rep. Julie Hamos has it right in this report from ABC7:

"I'm worried about what the governor is going to do. That's why we're trying to pass a couple of bills over, so we can give them some options. Not the good way of doing business down here, but at this point, I wish the governor would just be honest and tell us what bill he wants," said State Rep. Julie Hamos, (D) Evanston.

Still, there is this much progress to report. I guess it beats getting smacked with a bag of hammers.

Though I'd still rather have full service and not fare hikes on Jan. 20.

Forget No Service -- Let's support No Pants Day!

For a day, let's forget about Doomsday and threats of no bus service, and focus instead on No Pants Day on the CTA!

That's this Saturday, Jan. 12, from 2 till 5 pm. The meet-up place is the Loyola Red Line stop. Basically, you show up without pants and nonchalantly ride the El.

UPDATE: See new Meet-up location here.

No Pants! Day started in New York by Improv Everywhere in 2002. Read about the Chicago event on Facebook here. This is the first year the pantsless riders are hitting the CTA.

So grab your best boxers and pantaloons and make Chicago proud. And maybe make some other riders blush while you're at it.

Hat tip to Gapers Block. Photo by Improv Everywhere.

Gov: No more temporary bailouts; door open to sales tax hike

It may be too little too late, but Gov. Blagojevich finally is showing a bit of leadership on the transit funding issue. And just 13 days before service cuts and fare hikes are scheduled for CTA riders.

Still, it's good to see that Rod is "loathe to suggest" a third temporary bailout of the CTA before the Jan. 20 Doomsday. Since he came riding in on his white horse twice previously just before the original September and November Doomsdays, it was refreshing to hear him rule out that possibility and put the onus on legislators to find a long-term funding solution.

Even more positive is the news that Blago might sign a bill that contained a tax hike, such as the 1/4 of 1% sales tax hike that SB 572 calls for.

From the Tribune's Clout Street blog:

Asked if he would sign legislation that increased the sales tax, Blagojevich hinted he might be able “to improve” a bill so that enough constituencies are satisfied. If it’s a bill that includes an increase in sales taxes to fund transit, then so be it, the governor said – just send it his way.

“If, however, the legislature believes in that (sales tax) bill, they ought to pass that bill and give me a chance to improve it,” Blagojevich told reporters in Chicago.

“There are a lot of creative things you could with the ability to rewrite legislation and I’ll leave it at that,” he added. “If they believe in that bill, they ought to pass that bill. We want them to pass something and give me the ability to act.”

When pressed on how he would “improve” the bill if he remained dead-set against increasing the sales tax, Blago said only: “Stay tuned. Stay tuned.”

Blago also is making it easier for riders to get messages to legislators by setting up cameras in the James Thompson Building downtown that folks can use to record diatribes.  Transit users also can send messages directly from the state's Web site.

If only he had shown such leadership months ago. We may not be in this mess right now.

Blame Blago -- and here's his final chance

Throughout this transit funding crisis, I have avoided pointing blame at any one person for the mess we find ourselves in. I was happy to spread blame among all the top legislative leaders in both parties and the governor.

Now I point the finger of blame directly at Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

First, there were all his veto threats to any funding solution based on new taxes, such as the six-county sales tax increase of a quarter of a percent. SB 572 got 61 House votes in September, but didn't pass because at that time it needed a super majority of 71 votes. It would need 60 today.

Second, there were his two last-minute "bailouts" to avert various previous Doomsdays -- one in September and one in November.

Finally, there's his insistence on tying a capital spending bill to passage of a transit funding bill. This further complicates matters greatly.

Ultimately, it is Blago's lack of leadership to bring ALL legislative leaders to the table to focus exclusively on tackling the funding problem -- not offering 60-day fixes or saying what he WON'T support.

I think this next week could truly be the defining days of a second term that so far has spun out of control.

It's up to him to decide how that definition will be written.

The squabblers, the prayer and the shoveler

Sights seen on a cold January Red Line. . . .

First: A middle-aged couple sitting together, arguing about something inconsiderate he has said to her. He's kinda laughing, his arm around her, trying to talk her out of being mad. She wants nothing of it, saying one moment that she's not talking to him anymore, and the next moment continuing to berate her. This goes on for many stops, till they get off together at Fullerton, and escorts her on to the Brown Line, where no doubt the same discourse continues.

Second: On the same car, a middle-aged woman audibly mouths her prayers from Argyle to Grand.

Third: On the return trip home, a 40-ish woman boards at Clark and Division carrying a large, red snow shovel. Making me wonder whether I had missed some dire winter storm warning.

Latest funding news: Nothing, as usual

Sorry if you've heard all this before. No news is bad news. And hearing the same news over and over again is bad news.

1. Gov. Blagojevich called another special legislative session today, and no one came. At least, very few showed up. Two leaders were still on their way back from the Rose Bowl in California. And Rep. Madigan reportedly was in Florida.  Anywhere but where they should be.

2. Blago again suggested Daley use funds from the sale of the Chicago Skyway to bail out the CTA. Daley said no way, and made Blago look like a financial fool: “You don’t take sales of assets and use ‘em for your budget. . . . You only use ‘em for infrastructure. That is the worst scenario for anyone dealing with financing. . . . That is disaster,” scolded da Mayor, according to the Sun-Times report. 

3. Rep. Julie Hamos held a hearing Wednesday on how to plug the state budget hole if state gasoline sales taxes were diverted to fund transit.

4. Now this is the only real news on all this nonsense: Since it's a new year and a new legislative session, it will take just a simple majority to pass bills instead of the super majority required late last year in the overtime session.That means 60 votes in the House and 30 in the Senate. Hamos/ SB 572 -- the regional sales tax increase -- got 61 House votes on Sept. 4. And the legislation to divert the gas sales tax got 57 votes on Nov. 28. The downside is that the union agreement is out the window now and will have to be renegotiated. Part of the agreement was that it had to be passed by Dec. 31.

5. Realistically, the next legislative full session probably won't start until Monday, Jan. 7 -- less than two weeks from the Jan. 20 Doomsday.

Happy 2008 everyone!

Best of 2007: May's marvels; June jewels

Continuing with the Best Tattler Tales of 2007.

May:

Huberman named new CTA president: No doubt, the best CTA news of 2007.

Drunk lady spews vulgarities: And a very nasty one at that.

June:

Huberman interviews: The first showed how he was holding his managers and employees accountable.

Bizarre overheard conversations.

Deodorant girl: Have stick, will apply.

More do's and don'ts for riders. Rules are good to have, if only more would follow them.